Abstract: An apparatus for thermally attaching includes a thermally conductive support body (36; 86) with an edge surface (38; 88), a heater cartridge (42), a pneumatically expandable elastomeric element (44-54; 92-102), pinch plates (64, 66; 112, 114) for holding the elastomeric element in place; and passages (60, 62; 108, 110) for pressurizing the heated elastomeric element into contact with an element (24, 26) to be thermally attached to a mounting surface (85).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sealing object(s) in various size pouches (10). The apparatus comprises a frame (54) having a support surface (56), a seal assembly (58) including upper and lower sealing jaws (44), a clamp assembly (60) including upper and lower clamping jaws (50), and a snorkel assembly (62) having a snorkel guide member (68) telescopically surrounding a probe (70). The clamp assembly secures the pouch, and the probe is inserted into the pouch to evacuate the air from the pouch. Once the air is evacuated, the seal assembly seals the pouch, and the clamp assembly then releases the pouch.

Abstract: An improved light-tight package for a roll (10) of a length (14) light-sensitive material such as photographic film or paper includes an opaque leader (22) wound around the roll. Folded-over portions (48, 50) of opaque end disks (32, 34) are held in place by adhesive tape strips (44, 46). Upon unrolling one embodiment of the package by pulling the leader, the end disks release from the adhesive strips without tearing; and the adhesive strips remain attached to the leader and are removed from the roll with the leader. Upon unrolling another embodiment, the end disks tear circumferentially and the torn-away portions are removed with the tape strips and the leader.

Abstract: Light-tight packaging (10) for photosensitive web roll (R) has a flexible material portion (24) detachably attached to a leading end portion (18) of the roll (R) that over wraps the outermost first convolution (20) of the roll (R). Opaque end members (22) are attached to the core (21) of the roll (R). First, second and third stretchable segments (28,30,32) of the flexible material portion (24) having widths wider than or equal to the length of the roll overlap the outermost first convolution (20) of the roll (R) to form successive outermost convolutions comprising the respective stretchable segment. Alternate stretchable segments overhang the end peripheral edges (16) of the roll (R) and overlap and compressively seal the end members (22) to the annular faces (12,14) of the roll (R).

Abstract: A flexible apparatus and process are disclosed for loading objects into pouches and then sealing the pouches, in which a pouch (10) having side walls (12,14) and an open mouth (18) is moved from a source (34) to a pouch opening apparatus (72) where the mouth is opened to pass an object such as a stack (20) of slippery sheets which is pushed through the mouth into the pouch while the object is resiliently engaged through the walls of the pouch by a mechanism (70, 82-110) to prevent the object from shifting during movement into or with the pouch, after which the pouch and object are moved, while still resiliently engaged, to a station (74) at which the pouch is evacuated and sealed. Changes are readily accomodated in object size, pouch size or format, or all of these.

Abstract: Packages (10) are assembled with sleeve type boxes having a receptacle portion (14) and a closure portion (24) in a process and apparatus which guide the packages between a fixed guide (52) and a movable guide (50) into a receptacle portion held in the jaws of a grasping device (66), after which the partially completed product is moved along a path (62) into engagement with a closure portion held at an angle to the path by a grasping and holding device (64) which rotates the closure portion into telescopic engagement with the receptacle portion as the two portions move along the path (62). A programmable robot (56) is used to pick up matched pairs of closure and receptacle portions, engage the closure portions with grasping and holding device (64) and engage the receptacle portions with grasping device (66); and, after insertion of a package, the matched pairs are reassembled.

Abstract: A package light-tightly enclosing a photosensitive web roll for use in cooperating apparatus comprises an opaque leader joined to the web and wrapped circumferentially at least twice around the roll and a pair of thin, readily foldable, disk-shaped, opaque end caps covering the roll ends. Each end cap has an inner annular portion that is folded into and sealed inside one of the roll core ends and an outer annular portion that is folded over the corresponding roll end periphery and onto the adjacent lateral edge portion of the first leader convolution. A pair of opposite lateral edge portion recesses extend inwardly from the leader opposite lateral edges, by an amount slightly exceeding the folded-over end-cap outer-annular-portion width, at a circumferential site on the leader where the first leader convolution ends.

Abstract: A flexible apparatus and method are disclosed for erecting cases and packaging a series of objects (26) which may be delivered in random order on an infeed conveyor (28), including a source (40,42) of a plurality of types of cases for such objects; a controller (48) for storing and providing information on the order of such objects; a station (32) for locating such cases for insertion of such objects; a programmable robot (34), responsive to such information, the robot having an end effector with a multiple purpose tool for selecting the type of case appropriate for a particular object in the series, for erecting the case and for placing the objects into the case; and a station (46) for closing and sealing the packed case.

Abstract: A magazine receives a package having a stack of film sheets, such as x-ray film sheets, enclosed within a light-tight flexible bag. When the bag is positioned within the magazine and the magazine closed, the bag is cut and then removed from the magazine through is lightlock. A pair of stripper bars in the magazine are located between the lightlock and the stack of film sheets in the bag. The bars form a curved slot that enables the bag to be withdrawn through the slot while the bars block movement of the film sheets through the slot with the bag.